For the next 12 days, at least once a day, on Instagram I’m going to be taking a break from my usual attempt to crack a joke and focus on reminders that this is the season of giving.  While holiday shopping is a fun part of the season you will never feel good in your clothes if you aren’t feeling good about yourself.  I believe giving to others has an enormous role in how we feel about ourselves.  Whether you’re able to give time, money, kindness – whatever you have – give it!  It will come back to you ten fold.

When I shared the story of my husband’s recovery from drug addiction and raised money to give back a scholarship for another addict I was SO blessed by an overwhelming amount of kind words, support, and the doors it opened for us to reach and help people who were seeing the same struggles.  I believe recovering from addiction is more about changing how the person sees themself rather than about removing the drug.   The 12 steps emphasize helping others trying to recover from addiction and having received this gift in my life it’s one I couldn’t be more passionate about sharing.  So my giving today is another donation to the Plymouth House scholarship fund.

These are the new leather leggings I got on Black Friday!  I also got this lace up back sweater at the same time.  Both are from Express who is always running great sales and specials.  I am wearing a size small in the leggings (don’t size up) and a medium in the sweater (I could have used a small).  My husband says these slouchy sweaters look like they’re made for sitting on the couch rather than out around town.   Hmmm….coming from someone who wears socks with sandals I’m going to just ignore his input.  I rounded up some similar sweater you might like as well!   My exact sweater comes in olive green and black and is linked below.  I plan to wear mine with PJ pants and tell my husband I have a date with the couch this weekend.

There are so many great bralettes you can wear under a slouchy sweater.   You could wear a strapless bra but those don’t work out so well for me (they slide down since  I don’t have much to hold up).  I think a lace bralette also adds interest and texture so I’m sharing several options here that would also look great with a sweater like this.

That gorgeous Chloe chain bag belongs to my friend Christina who took these pictures for me and let me pretend it was mine.  You can find a dupe chain saddle bag for under $30 if you aren’t concerned with brands or real leather.

You can barely see the necklace I am wearing but I am wearing just the choker portion of the statement necklace I love so much that is currently on sale.  It’s versatile and I always get compliments on it when I layer it over a plain top.

What do you have planned for the weekend?  My hubby is working tomorrow so I’m flying solo with two toddler boys.   I usually take them for a long coffee walk and hopefully it will be warm enough that we can stop to admire the huge Christmas trees that adorn the center of our town.  My 4 year old has actually taken an interest in helping me with Instagram pictures (kids and the iphone, OYE!) so I’m hoping he will help me get a picture of of these black over the knee boots while they are still 40% off through tomorrow.  Whatever you do this weekend I hope you enjoy and hopefully you can find some time to give whatever you are able.